Welding shop to relocate west of Shipshewana

A welding shop that has vexed the county with its operations at CR 850W and US 20 was approved Monday evening to build a new location on land located further west on US 20.

The LaGrange County Plan Commission was petitioned by the new owners of MSNF, LLC (formerly Shipshe Welding) for site plan approval of a welding shop to be located on US 20 immediately west of KZ RV’s location. The nearly 20,000 sq. ft. facility will sit on 10 acres of land that was rezoned to industrial.

The new owners have told the county that they will raze the house at the corner of CR 850W and US 20 that had been used as a welding shop until it was red tagged by the county. A metal pole barn at that location may continue to be used as storage by the new owners.

The site at 850W had been an ongoing issue with the county as the location was originally allowed a variance as a retail rubber stamp sales location. However, the site had recently been used as a welding shop, with portions of the house removed to allow work to be done. The county also noted issues with truck parking along US 20 and other issues surrounding the site.

The plan commission approved the new site plan with the conditions that the owners supply a landscaping plan, that there be no outside storage allowed at the 850W location, INDOT driveway permit approval, and final approval for connection to the town’s sewer system.

Other site plans approved Monday evening were:

Aurora Services at CR 250N and CR 850W for a professional office building for printing and sign design. The office area will have 9,000 sq. ft. on the first floor and 3,000 sq. ft. on a second floor for future expansion.

Lambright Aluminum, LLC, 5220W 500S in Topeka, approved for a 70x64 ft. addition for the manufacturing of aluminum carts for generators and agricultural uses. The plan commission also put a 30-day deadline on the owners deciding if furniture manufacturing would also be part of the business at that location.